Second Grade Newsletter 12.2.22

 Hello Parents! 

News: 

The Winter Concert is quickly approaching. Each grade level will perform in separate time slots on Wednesday, December 7. The 2nd grade concert begins at 5:30pm in the CPA gym. Students should arrive at their 2nd grade homerooms at 5:15pm. Please be mindful of any physical symptoms your student may have and be sure to keep them home if they have a fever or other symptoms of concern. Please refer to the concert flyer or family handbook for concert attire.

Uniform Update: Students may wear a long-sleeved shirt under their uniform shirt for warmth, as long as it is the same color as their uniform shirt (maroon long-sleeved shirt under a maroon school polo, etc.). Girls may wear black or navy leggings under their skirts or dresses for warmth, as long as their socks cover their ankles. Students must store any non-uniform sweaters or jackets in their backpacks or storage hook.

 

Important Dates: 

Winter Concert: Wednesday, Dec. 7th

Insect Test: Tuesday, Dec. 13th

Early Release: 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 14th, 15th, 16th

Winter Celebration: Friday, Dec. 16th

Quarter 2 ends: Friday, Dec. 16th

Conversation Prompts: 

Who was Medusa?

Which subtraction strategy helps you the most?

Add an adjective to this sentence: The ____ child laughed.

Who was Alexander the Great?

What are the benefits of being a social insect? What are the benefits of being a solitary insect?

Why did Atalanta let Hippomenes win the race?

What was your favorite part in completing the Greek foldable?

What did you like most about the Greek Celebration? 

Academics:

History 

Scholars enjoyed their study of Ancient Greece and the Greek Celebration! Scholars will now turn their attention to learning the geography of the Americas including land features of well-known mountain ranges, Great Lakes, Great Plains, and the Mississippi River. Scholars will also compare the U.S.A. and Canada.

 

Science 

Students will meet an insect collector and view his specimen collection. We will complete a study guide, which will be sent home. Please use this to help your student study for our Insect Test on December 13. Students were assigned an insect to research in class. They will also create an artwork of their insect in Art class.

Literature 

The children have been enjoying the various Greek myths that we have been reading in class. This week, we will learn more about the famous Greek heroes such as Bellerophon, Hercules, Oedipus, and Theseus. We will also read the tale of King Midas and the Golden Touch, as students practice the skill of visualization.

Grammar 

Students are working on memorizing "Bed in Summer" by Robert Louis Stevenson. They will recite the poem in its entirety the week of December 12th. In grammar, students are learning about adjectives and how they describe nouns and pronouns. In writing class, we will write based on passages from the story, "The Young Man and the Cat." 

Math 

We have started a new unit on bar models. Students will learn how this tool helps them solve challenging word problems. Don't forget to review addition and subtraction facts with your student.

Thank you! 

Your Second Grade Team

Second Grade Newsletter 11.28.22

Second Grade Newsletter 11.28.22

Hello Parents! 

Important Dates:   

Math Unit 3 Assessment: Wednesday, November 30

Ancient Greece History Assessment: Thursday, December 1

Ancient Greece Celebration: Friday, December 2

Winter Concert: Wednesday, December 7

Poem Recitation Due: Monday, December 12

Winter Celebration: Friday, December 16

Many thanks to everyone who donated or volunteered for the Medieval Faire!!

Please consider signing up to donate an item for our Ancient Greece Celebration using the following links. Thank you.

2A Food Link: https://signup.com/go/ivQDRsr

2B Food Link: https://signup.com/go/qvddDSx

2C Food Link: https://signup.com/go/KWbKPDV

Craft Sign up: https://signup.com/go/ZkkjknB

 

 

Conversation Prompts:  

How does addition help you solve a subtraction problem?

What is the contraction for "I would"?

What are 2 jobs that ants do? (Find food, tend eggs, store food, dig tunnels, …)

Persephone ate 6 pomegranate seeds. What did this cause?

Who were the 3 great thinkers of Ancient Greece? (Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle)

History 

Scholars will learn who the 3 great thinkers were of Ancient Greece, and they will also learn about Alexander the Great. They will review for the assessment on Thursday, December 1st and enjoy the Greek Celebration this Friday, December 2^nd. 

Science 

This week we will compare solitary insects and social insects. Students will create a writing map and use this to write a paragraph in Grammar. We will also consider harmful insects versus helpful insects.

Literature 

Scholars will hear more Ancient Greek myths while learning about Greek gods and goddesses. We will continue to write short summaries and explore causes and effects and predictions.

Grammar 

Students are showing nice growth with their expressive voices and confidence during poetry recitations. Our next and final  poem for the quarter will be "Bed in Summer" by Robert Louis Stevenson. This week students will write based on passages from Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH. Students will also have a first try at writing an informative paragraph based on our learning in science class about social and solitary insects. In grammar class, students will learn about adjectives which are words that describe nouns and pronouns. 

Math

We will review subtraction concepts before the students complete an assessment on our subtraction unit. Our next unit, will utilize both addition and subtraction as students learn how to solve one and two-step word problems. They will also learn how to visually represent a problem by drawing a bar model. Please continue to support your scholar by practicing basic addition and subtraction facts.

Second Grade Newsletter 11.18.22

Second Grade Newsletter 11.18.22

Hello Parents! 

Important Dates:  

Medieval Faire: This Saturday, November 19th

Windy Nights Recitation: Monday, November 21st 

Thanksgiving Break (no school): November 23-27

Ancient Greece Celebration: Friday, December 2nd

Winter Concert: December 7th

Please consider signing up to donate an item for our Ancient Greece Celebration using the following links. Thank you.

2A Food Link: https://signup.com/go/ivQDRsr

2B Food Link: https://signup.com/go/qvddDSx

2CFood Link: https://signup.com/go/KWbKPDV

Craft Sign up: https://signup.com/go/ZkkjknB

 

 

Conversation Prompts:  

One hundred = _____ tens

What did Chester decide to do at the end of the book?

How many main body parts does an insect have (3)?

How did the Greeks trick the Trojans?

What is a contraction for "I would"?

History 

We will learn about the original Olympic Games and students will create an award that was used during the Ancient Greek Olympics.

Science 

Next week we will begin learning about the differences between social insects and solitary insects.

Literature 

Scholars will hear more Ancient Greek myths and write summaries while learning about Greek gods and goddesses.

Grammar 

We will review parts of speech and contractions. Full recitation of “Windy Nights” is due on Monday, November 21st. 

Math 

Students will learn how addition relates to subtraction. We will discuss parts and wholes of related equations. After Thanksgiving break, we will review subtraction concepts before the students complete an assessment on our subtraction unit.

Second Grade Newsletter 11.10.22

 

Second Grade Newsletter 11.10.22

Hello Parents! 

Important Dates:  

 

GHA Info Night: Tuesday, November 15 - Tell your friends and neighbors!

Windy Nights Recitation: Monday, November 21

Winter Concert: Wednesday, December 7

Conversation Prompts:  

What happened at Chester's dinner party? (A fire broke out.)

What is the first stage of an insect's life cycle?

How did Spartan boys live after they left home?

How was life different for women in Sparta and Athens?

When do you need to rename a ten when subtracting?

Poetry:  

Full recitation of “Windy Nights” is due on Monday, November 21st. Watch the word order on the last three lines - it's tricky! The students did a wonderful job reciting "The Cow". We are already looking forward to this one!

History:

The students are enjoying learning about city-states, democracy, and the differences between Athens and Sparta. Coming up next week, the students will discover the landmarks of Parthenon and Athena’s City. They will also discover the main cause of the Trojan War and predict the outcome of the battle at Marathon and prove their opinion. 

Science 

We will learn more about the insect life cycle including complete and incomplete metamorphosis. Then we will learn about insect anatomy and compare insects and arachnids.

Literature 

Students will read the last of the classic, The Cricket in Times Square. Chester becomes wildly popular drawing a crowd and business to the newsstand. The Bellinis are grateful for the income but Chester finds the fame oppressive. What will he decide to do? On Friday, we will begin our Greek Myths unit.

Grammar 

We will continue learning about conjunctions. We will continue with Dictation/Narration Excercises with excerpts from one of my favorite stories, The Mouse and The Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. 

Math 

Students have begun subtracting with renaming.  We will continue this work, building to subtracting with renaming of three digit numbers. Don't forget to review basic addition and subtraction facts such as 9-7 and 8+8 to help students improve their fact fluency.

Second Grade Newsletter 11.4.22

 Hello Parents!

Students enjoyed a lovely presentation from Ballet Etudes today. This signaled the coming of winter along with the colder weather. Please don't forget to send your student with a sweater. Thank you!

Important Dates: 

Math Mid-Chapter Checkup-Subtraction: Tuesday, Nov. 8th

 

Spalding Test: Thursday, Nov. 10th

 

Veteran's Day (no school): Friday, Nov. 11th

Great Hearts Night: Tuesday, Nov. 15th

Medieval Fair: Saturday, November 19th from 11 am-2 pm

Thanksgiving Break (no school): November 23-25th

Ancient Greece Celebration: Friday, Dec. 2nd

Winter Concert: Wednesday, Dec. 7th 

 

 

 

Reminders:  We are seeking items for donation for our Kingdom meeting on Wednesday, November 9th. If you are able to send the following items in, it would be greatly appreciated, thank you! 

·         Shipping Boxes

·         Toilet Paper Rolls (just the cardboard)

·         Paper Towel Rolls (just the cardboard)

·         Paper plates (strong, Dixie-type) 

·         Plastic or foam small cups

·         Popsicle sticks 

·         Pipe cleaners or play-doh

 

Conversation Prompts:

What is a city-state? (A city-state is a city that includes surrounding areas and has its own government. They are often walled cities and near a coast.)

 

Who was allowed to participate in the Assembly? (only male citizens over the age of 18)

 

How do insects move? Why do they move?

 

How does Chester show virtue after accidentally eating the Bellini's two-dollar bill?

 

How does 8-5 help you solve 80-50 and 800-500?

 

What is the difference between flower and flour?

 

Where does a comma go in an address?

 

Academics

History
We will continue learning about Ancient Greece. Students will compare and contrast ancient Sparta and ancient Athens. Then, they will learn about the Greek alphabet and language.

Science
We will continue to learn more about insects this week including insect flight. Next, we will begin our exploration of insect metamorphosis.

Literature

We will  read chapter 10-12 of the classic, The Cricket in Times Square. Students will begin working on independent narrations of chapters from this book.

Grammar
We will continue working on our narration  and dictation exercises with lessons from “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton. Students will learn about contractions and learn to change two words into a contraction and a contraction back into its full form. This week's poem is "Windy Nights" by Robert Louis Stevenson. It will be recited the week of November 21st.

Math

Students will review the subtractions strategies they have learned thus far before completing our mid-chapter check-up quiz on Tuesday. Afterwards, we will move on to learning to subtraction with renaming, this is a challenge concept for students, please ask them to explain their thinking during their homework practice. Thank you!

Second Grade Newsletter 10.28.22

Second Grade Newsletter 10.28.22

Reminders:

"The Cow" Recitation: Monday, Oct. 31st

Ballet Etudes Performance: Friday, Nov. 4th

Veteran's Day (no school): Friday, Nov. 11th

Great Hearts Night: Tuesday, Nov. 15th

Ancient Greece Celebration: Friday, Dec. 2nd

Winter Concert: Wednesday, Dec. 7th

We kindly request that you refrain from sending holiday candy for your child’s snack. They will be able to concentrate better with a nutritious snack. Thank you.

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered their time or donated materials for the Field Trip, Classical Character Day, and the China Celebration. We appreciate your partnership.

Conversation Prompts:

Why did Mario want to keep the cricket?

What did Confucius teach?

What is the difference between "there", "they're", and "their"?

What is 17-8?

Where is a cricket’s ear?

Academics

History

This week we will begin our unit on Ancient Greece. Students will understand the geography of the area and learn about city-states and the beginnings of democracy.

Science

Students will make observations about a collection of real insects. Then we will begin our study of insect locomotion, beginning with peristalsis, tri-pedal gait, swimming, and gliding on the water surface.

Literature

We will continue reading The Cricket in Times Square while practicing decoding new text and reading with expression. We will discuss the plot and characters and will discover the literary technique of anthropomorphism. Please send in a copy of this book for your child as soon as possible, if you haven’t already.

Grammar 

We will continue learning about comma usage including using a comma to separate cities and states in an address and the day and year of a date. Students will practice narrating a chapter from our classic, The Cricket in Times Square and write their first original narration for a chapter this week.

Math

Scholars will continue our unit on subtraction by practicing subtracting larger numbers including tens and hundreds. Students will learn the vertical algorithm for subtraction but without renaming this week.